Bolton hit back from two down to beat Crawley in seven-goal thriller

Feb 8, 2025 1 min read
Josh Sheehan was on the scoresheet for Bolton (Richard Sellers/PA)
Josh Sheehan was on the scoresheet for Bolton (Richard Sellers/PA)

Steven Schumacher gained his first win as Bolton boss as the Trotters came from 3-1 down to beat 10-man Crawley 4-3 in a League One thriller.

Charlie Barker’s own goal in the ninth minute of stoppage-time completed a remarkable turnaround for play-off chasing Wanderers.

Rushian Hepburn-Murphy’s double after the break and a third from Will Swan put the Sussex side in command with only 22 minutes of normal time remaining – despite Jordi Osei-Tutu initially pulling Bolton level at 1-1.

But in an amazing transformation Bolton, beaten at Reading in Schumacher’s opening game, hit back through Newcastle loanee Alex Murphy.

With five minutes remaining, Wales international Josh Sheehan equalised before Crawley substitute Rory Feely collected a second booking in the space of four minutes to receive his marching orders from referee Alex Chilowicz.

Bolton, kept out of the play-off positions on goal difference, weren’t finished. And in the ninth of 12 minutes of stoppage time, substitute Gethin Jones crossed from the byline and defender Barker deflected the ball beyond keeper Matthew Cox.

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